Xavier Becerra is a friend of police unions and an enemy of reform. Don’t nominate him for AG.

President Elect Joe Biden, Vice President Elect Kamala Harris, and the Biden-Harris transition team

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have promised police reform will be a priority in their administration. More than any other cabinet position, their Attorney General will shape the administration’s policies on policing and criminal justice — and who they nominate will be an important message about their plans.

Unfortunately, according to reports this week, they’re considering nominating Xavier Becerra, California’s current attorney general. Police unions in California spent hundreds of thousands to elect Becerra, and since taking office he has been a consistent opponent of police accountability, transparency, and reform. We need a US Attorney General who will be a leader on police accountability and reform — but Becerra has shown that he’s an ally of police unions and an obstacle to change.

After California passed a new law that would make records of police misconduct public, Becerra sided with police unions and refused to release the records until a judge ordered him to comply. Becerra even threatened legal action against reporters who had legally obtained and released criminal records of thousands of California police. Becerra declined to seek charges against the officers who killed Stephon Clark, an unarmed Black man who was shot in the back and killed by police officers in his own backyard. This summer, Becerra opposed a new bill that would allow local prosecutors to request that the state attorney general take over the investigation of police killings.

We need a US Attorney General who will help fulfill Biden’s campaign promises by leading on police reform and standing up to police unions and others who try to undermine progress. It’s clear that Xavier is the wrong choice for Attorney General or any other position in an administration that is committed to police reform.

Join us in calling on Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and the Biden-Harris transition team to stop considering Xavier Becerra for Attorney General.


To: President Elect Joe Biden, Vice President Elect Kamala Harris, and the Biden-Harris transition team
From: [Your Name]

If you care about police reform, don’t nominate Xavier Becerra for Attorney General. As California’s AG, Becerra worked with police unions to block transparency, accountability, and reform - after they spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to help him get elected. We need a US Attorney General who will be a leader on police accountability and reform - not another obstacle. We call on you to stop considering Xavier Becerra for Attorney General.